The 2025 Vic Bream Classic Series hits Mallacoota this weekend, with two big days of competitive fishing.
The popular series is celebrating 20 years, with Mallacoota always one of the more popular destinations, with this weeks round two event, attracting a field of 65 boats.
The Vicbream series has regularly visited Gippsland since 2005, holding events at Mallacoota, Metung and Marlo.
Metung hosted round one of the 2025 series with Josh Jeffrey and Connor Jackson successful.
Last years event saw some magnificent fish caught, with Team Sea Wasps Bowan Joiner and Ben Hanscombe successful with a 10 bream haul of 8.665 kilograms.
In second place was Team Tornado, Michael Hunt and Rhett Sandy (8.150 kilograms), with 2023 winners, Team Wild Wings TXD, Bogdan Zisu and Mario Grech (7.920 kilograms) placed third.
Hanscombe returns to defend his title, this time partnered by Tyler Breuest, Zisu and Grech will again provide stoic opposition given their affinity with the local waterway.
First round victor, Josh Jeffrey, who is teaming up with David Bominkhof in the absence of Connor Jackson will be keen to keep the momentum rolling.
There will be plenty of opposition from a number of Gippsland based crews, who will hope that local knowledge is the key to success.
They include last years sixth placed crew, Blair and Nikki Byrant, who know how to land a big catch, as well as former Australian champion Steven Pryke, who is teaming up with his father, Lindsay.
Other locals to keep an eye on include, Paul and Justin Conn, Scott and Archer Scicluna, Steven and Brett Campisi, and the experienced duo of Peter Auer and Neil Flemming.
Tournament director, Bill Hartshorne loves bringing the event to Gippsland.
“For 20 years the Vic Bream Classic Series has been providing a fun, inclusive and family friendly catch and release bream fishing tournament series throughout some of East Gippsland’s most picturesque locations,” Hartsthorne said.
He is expecting another huge year for the series, and the opener at Metung certainly hasn’t dampened his spirits.
“In 2025 the series is only going from strength to strength with more amazing sponsors than ever before and over $180,000 in cash and prizes up for the grabs. Many of the prizes are randomly drawn, so everyone has a chance to win some amazing prizes,” Hartshorne said.
Marlo will host round four on August 16-17, before the grand final heads back to Metung, with a date yet to be confirmed.
Australia’s premier bream fishing location where the best 50 teams from across Australia will battle it out to be crowned the 2025 champion.
At each of the five qualifying rounds each team of two anglers will be competing to not only take out the title at each venue, but also will be fighting it out for more than $26,000 in cash and prizes, not to mention qualification towards the Vic Bream Classic Grand Final.
“The beauty of this style of catch and release tournament fishing is you get to fish with your best mate, dad, mum, brother or sister – it is up to you,” Hartshorne said.
The teams format creates a fantastic social feel to the weekend while still maintaining a high level of competition among teams.
The event weigh in is at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday where you will see the quality East Gippsland bream on display in a new large display tank.
